Store-shelving



(No Modl.)

J. A. GUEST.

STQRB SHELVING.

No. 274,488. Patented Mar.27,1883.

INVENTOR.

mj, 6L.

WITNBSSBS ATTORNEY.

- UNITED 'STATES PATENT JAMES A. GUEST, OF BURLINGTON, IOWA.

STORE-SHELVING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,488, dated March 27, 1883. Application filed February D, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES' A. GUns'r, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store Shelving; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will, enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or iigurcs of reference marked there on, which forna part of this specification.

This invention. relates to shelving for stores; and it consists in constructions and combinations hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, and in which the similar letters used as marks of reference apply to the like parts in all of the figures, Figure l is a front. elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation in the line .r in Fig. l, but only showing a part of the gravitating carriers or cases. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation'in line y y in Fio. l. Fig. 4 is a. side elevation of the frame alone.

Referring to the drawings by letters, A A represent vertical framehars. B B' are sprocket-wheels carried on a shaft, B",whichis journaled in the upper part ot' the frame A; and C C are similar wheels, carried on a shaft, C, which is journaled in the lowerpart of the frame A. A chain belt, D, extends over and gears with wheels B C, and a similar belt, D, gears with the wheels B' C. The shaft C" is extended, and has a crank-wheel, 0', on its outer end, by means of which the sprockets C O' may be rotated to operate the belts D. Small handles d project from the belts D, by means of which the belts may also be operated. The belts D are provided with suitable hearings for rods E E E", which are loosely hung in said bearings. Cases and drawers of various kinds-in fact, of' any desired kindmaybe attached at their upper sides to the rods E, so that the vweight of said cases will retain them in proper upright position while they are carried b v the belts D entirely around with said belts. I have shown at Fig. 1, suspended from therods E, at 1, an open shelf;

'at 2, a series of open cases; at 3, two drawers; at 4, a hinged front sideto a case; at 5, a hinged half-side; at G, two tiers of drawers;

bar a.

at 7, -a single drawer. Other classes ol' draw ers or cases may he used, so that any class ot' goods may be contained therein.

E is a rod jonrnaled in the belts, and provided with pins e, on which any desired articles may be hung or suspended.

E is a rodjonrnaled in the belts, and bent as shown, so as to lower its central part for the reception of bottles F, which are prevented from falling by side rods, F.

E" is a rod jonrnnled in the belts, and bentv so that its central or main part is lowered, as shown at Fig. l. Standards g project npwardly from the rod En", and between each pair of standards g' a case or crate, g, of any suitable kind, is hinged at g at its upper side, whereby either case g maybe tilted or swung independently of the others, as shown at Fig. 3, in order to facilitate pouring from a bottle, F, contained in said tilted case.

EN is a rod jonrnaled in the belts, with one of its ends projecting and adapted to receive a removable crank, fo. The rod EH has an annular flanged, at each end, and carpets or other cloth may be wound onto or from this lrod Ewhen the beltsl are not moving and the crank c is in place on said rod. The crank is removed when the cloth is wound on the rod Em', so that it will not interfere with the movement ofthe belts.

The frame-bars A are connected by bars a n, which support a vertical bar, e.

H H are bars crossed at their mid-lengths, where they are journaled on a bolt, h, to the y K K are case or drawer sustniners, located between the two series of cases or drawers, as shown at Fig. 2, and are formed of straight bars, with their ends turned away from the cases, as shown at same ligure, to prevent the bars catching on the cases when the belts are moving. The upper ends ot' the bars K or case-sustainers are connected to the barsH 9 by pivots, and their lower ends by bolts h", which operate in slots k in thc bars K.

I I are springs located on each side of the bar d, and between it and the bars K, and are adapted to press the bars K from each other ico and toward the cases.

J is a chain or cord, connected at its end to the bars K, as shown at Fig. 2, and its central part connected tothe end of a lever, l', which Vif preferred. A cord or chain, M, connected with the cord L, extends to and is connected with a spring-pawl, m', which engages (when ynot drawn back by the cord M) with teeth in the periphery of the crank-wheel GH. rllle cord M may extend over the pulley m and connect with the tread1e-lever n.

I have shown the device as extending above and below a Hoor, P, on which the treadle n is mounted. It may extend vertically through only one room, or through any number in a vertical series, and may extend downward into a basement. rIhere may be different series ot' lthe complete device, and they maybe arranged against or close tothe walls, or in the centers or other parts ot' rooms. When arranged in the centers of rooms, the drawers, cases, and other gravitatin g receivers may be open at both sides to permit access from either side. They may also be arranged in show-windows or other desired and convenient places.

When it is desired to move the belts, as althe same movement ofthe treadle n also draws on the ehain'or cord -M,'and thereby releases the pawl m from the crank-wheel 0', when the operator may take holdot the handles on the belts and move them as desiredand as is necessary to bring any ease or drawer convenient to and, within easy access thereto by the operator. On releasing the treadle n the spring-pawl will engage with the crankwheel C'", and thereby hold the belts, and at the same time the springs I will force the bars K outwardly against thecases or drawers, and thereby hold them steady for withdrawal ot' the drawers or for other purposes.

The rods on which the drawers or cases are suspended may be removably attached to the belts, as shown in Letterslatent No. 270,895,

granted to me Januaryf23, A. D. 1883, or in any other desired manner.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a store-shelving, in combination, the endless belts having rods journaled thereto and provided with handles d, for operating said be1ts,`and the gravitating carriers, -substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

2. In a store-shelving, in combination with endless belts having rods journaled thereto,

4. In combination with the endless beltand gravitatingcases journaled thereto, the casesustainers formed ot' bars K, operated by any suitable mechanism and adapted to operate by contact with the eases, substantially as and for the purpose speeitied.

' 5. In combination with the endless belts and ro'd E, journaled thereto and provided with standards g', the case g", hinged to the standards g', substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

6.' In combination with the endless belts, the rod Em', Iiournaled thereto and provided with a removable crank, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In combination with the endless belts having gravitating cases suspended thereon, and the casefsustainin g device operated hy suitable chains or cords, and alever or treadle,

n, the spring-pawl m,adapted to lock the belts and to be operated by the treadle n, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' 'JAMES A. GUEST. Witnesses:

J oHN G. MrN'roN, U. A. SCHLICHTER. 

